The Cornelius City Council in December approved the intergovernmental agreement for fire department management services. The move coincides with Cornelius Fire Chief Chris Asanovic’s Dec. 31 retirement.

Cornelius city officials say the one-year agreement will allow the department to explore its options for the future.

The department has 14 funded positions, but the retirement of a commander earlier this year led the agency to promote from within, said Cornelius Police Chief Paul Rubenstein. The promotions left the department with an empty police officer spot, he said.

The department is in the process of backgrounding two potential police officer candidates, and hopes to fill the position by the middle of January.